L 



ON THE CONTROL 

INSECTS 
AND FUNGI. 

Copyright, 1917, 

By Fred Reinleiii, 
Portland, Oregon. 



Circular No. 151. July 20, 1917. 





ERATTA: <^'^ ^"^ 



Several unfavorable conditions, lar^'ely ■ , ; -rd by the war, 
combined to make it impracticable for me to reaa proof of this 
Circular. The result is, it contains considerable typograph- 
ical errors. Taking the Circular as a whole I find that these 
errors do not lead to any misunderstanding. On page 12, par- 
agraph 3, mention is made of an 'insect, admittedly extremely 
injurious.' By this is meant the pear thrips. On page 32 
you find 'The Cain Borer' for 'The Cane Borer,' also below, 
on same page, 'sweet and sour-sweet' for 'sweet and non- 
sweet.' On page 35 you find 'large pole pines' for 'lodge pole 
pine.' On page 36 'broadly impossible' for 'blandly impossi- 
ble.' On page 37 'millions of feet' for 'billions of feet.' also 
preventative war' for 'preventive work. ' 

On page 39 'left us available places' for 'left no available 
places.' On page 34 it reads 'these savings' for 'these sow- 
ings.' Quotation marks have been left out in a number of 
places where they should have appeared. 



StP \2ldi7 



ON CONTROL OF INSECTS AND FUNGI. 

Copyright 1917. By FRED REINLEIN, Portland, Oregon. 
Circular No. 151. July 20, 1917. 



Inasmuch as anything: new pertaining to agriculture cannot 
be satisfactorily introduced unless it can be shown that the mat- 
ter had been submitted to the Department of Agriculture for ex- 
amination, and had there been approved; it follow^s that it is the 
duty of the Bureau of Ethnology to define its position in regard 
to anything new that has bearing on the control of insects. 

I have been wanting the Bureau of Ethnology to define its 
position on new matter for 19 years past. What the Bureau at 
present is wanted to act on is set forth in my Circulars No. 148 to 
150. There was no action of any kind whatever taken on my 
Circular No. 148, nor on those preceeding, as far back as No. 
141. This was due, as explained in my Circular No. 150. to the 
failure of the Chairmen of the Congressional Committees on Ag- 
riculture to do their duty. 

With the appearance of my Circular No. 149 Senator Geo. 
E. Chamberlain of Oregon was asked to see to it that the Bureau 
either admit that I am right, or else show wherein I am wrong. 
As explained on page 18 of my Circular No. 150, Mr. Chamber- 
lain w^as fair enough to give me a look at the tw^o replies he re- 
ceived, which showed that the Bureau had done neither of the 
two, but had handed him out a bundle of lies in each case. 

Since Senator Chamberlain did not see to it that he got any 
desired information on any given point the matter was taken up 
w^ith the congressman from the district I then lived in, Hon. W. 
C. Hawley, as stated on page 19, of my Circular No. 150. He 
too, got first of all, a bundle of lies. 

Circular No. 150 was meanwhile gotten out to explain in 
handy form just what the Bureau w^as most wanted to take action 
upon. Mr. Hawley was asked to see to it that action was taken, 



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and here is the essence of the reply he ^ot. "The suggestions 
made by Mr. Reinlein in this circular (150) have been examined 
by the experts of this Bureau, who are of the opinion that they 
are impractical." 

It is all a lie. If the experts had investigated the suggestions 
they would not now want to hand out an opinion, for they would 
then positively say wh^t their investigation had shown. An op- 
inion, as used in law, is the formal decision of a judge or coun- 
celor; not a mere claim as is the statement of the Entomologist: 
but the claim is substantiated by giving the reasons upon which 
the claim is based. Members of Congress can be expected to 
know this. 

For an illustration of how the Entomologist's claim works 
out, take the description of the control of the range caterpillar, 
as given on pages i to 3, of my Circular No. 150. The Bureau 
has virtually nothing in the way of control that is tangible. They 
expect to control the caterpillar b}^ natural enemies — parasites 
and predatory insects, saying the value of the crop is too small 
to allow of the use of artificial means, in the sense this form is 
generally understood, which is true. 

Having nothing better to offer than the development of par- 
asites and predatory insects, and expecting this to solve the 
problem, or at least make this do to placate the population of the 
affected territory, is equal to claiming that it would be possible 
to control the codlingmoth or any other insect by this course a- 
lot^g. Man can merely assist in establishing natural enemies, 
which in turn are often decimated b_v enemies of their own. The 
means of control I suggested, first published in my Circular No. 
146, issued Aug. 10, 1915, was calling for the systematic use of 
poultr3\ 

This suggestion was new; and the Entomologist, assisted 
by his experts, could, without an investigation, right then have 
handed out an opinion, showing why they arrived at that opin- 
ion. They did nothing of this kind. 

It had been shown to them that poultry could be made to 
attack the insect the year around, and it was showi to them at 

©CLA478435 <ti C^ 






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the very beginnincr that poultry is not expected at all to control 
the pest by attackin^^: the full ^rown caterpillar, studded with 
hairs. 

Investigations, in this case, could have been begun at any 
day of the year, hence should have been started immediately. 

Or, to put it another way for an illustration, the Entomolo- 
gist wants to say, in this case, that his experts claim that poul- 
try will not attack the egg clusters of the range caterpillar du- 
ring the 8 months the caterpillar exists in this form. He w^ants 
to say that his experts claim, that as these egg clusters hatch 
and each egg develops into a little caterpillar a quarter of an 
inch long, poultry would not attack these voung w^orms, that 
further, that these caterpillars while 3'oung, are gregarious and 
are nearly always exposed to view% poultry would not con- 
tinue to eat these young w^orms in very large numbers. When 
present as pupae this insect is greedily eaten by skunks, and the 
Entomologist wants to credit his experts with the claim that 
poultry would not eat these pupae. Nor that they would eat of 
the moths, usually within easy reach. 

As a field station was already established for the breeding 
of parasites, this investigation of the use of poultry could have 
been made in the easiest and most inexpensive manner. 

As explained on pages 4 to 10 on my Circular No. 150, a 
judicious use of poultr}' can be made to absolutely control the 
bollwevil and the boUworm. 

The Bureau's chief reliance for control of the bollwevil prac- 
tically from the beginning has been the early burning of the 
stalks. As many farmers object to the burning, on the ground 
that it impoverishes the soil, the Bur^u then conceeded that it 
might do to cut the plants up w^ith the stalk chopper, plow the 
trash under immediately and harrow and drag the ground "to 
make it still more difficult for the insects to emerge," You See 
neither the burning nor the burying kills any appreciable num- 
ber of the adults. The burning has the advantage in that it kills 
the immature stages in the infected squares and bolls; w^hile the 
plowing in buries these immature stages and because of the 
looseness of the soil due to burying so much vegetable matter, 



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many of these will mature and emerge before settled cold weath- 
er to successfull}' hibernate. 

Again, these plants had been pumping water out of the soil 
very heavily for weeks, and the soil is apt to be very hard for 
anything like successful burying, and the work will be slow. 

I had shown an improved wa^^ of securing the desired 
result, consisting in throwing the soil at the last two or three 
cultivations slightly towards the plant, sowing a cover crop, 
preferably a legume, vetches for instance, at the last cultivation, 
then cutting the plants off with the V stalk cutter when wanted, 
burning the plants, and then have thus at once the field produce 
pasturage, recovering from the air all and more of the carbonic 
acid and nitrogen that was lost through the burning of the plants. 

Since neither burning nor burying of the plants kills any 
noticeable number of the adults the Bureau at an earh^ date sug- 
gested that some of the plants be allowed to stand as traps, and 
the wevil were then there to be killed with crude oil. It is hard 
to see how such a' scheme could work, since the adult can readi- 
ly fly off and being chittinous all over, they should be able to 
stand a good bit of oil. Of late 3^ears nothing was heard of it, 
the idea having evidently been found to be absolutely impracti- 
cable and inefective. 

Up to 191 3 the bollwevil was not known to feed on anything 
other than cotton. Since then there was noted a decided tendan- 
C3' of wevils to learn to feed and breed in plants other than cot- 
ton. As a consequence, as explained on page 8 of mv Circular 
No. 150, I soon realized that by destroying the bulk of the plants 
and leaving a small part for traps, bending or rolling the plants 
down to bring the wevil within reach of poultry, the wevil would 
thus be exposed to attack till hibernation is fully under way, 
which in warm winters in the lower cotton belt does not occur at 
all, or is of very short duration. 

This, as explained on page 9 of my Circular No. 150, led to 
the suggestion of growing small patches of very late planted cot- 
ton purposely for traps, and in turn it was found that such trap 
patches would equally well serve to control absolutel^v the boll- 
worm at the same time. 



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With these trap patches in use a farmer may safely bury 
his plants if he prefers, since most adults resulting- from buried 
squares and bolls would hnd their way to the trap patches to be 
picked off by poultry. 

However, with a trap patch of late planted cotton on hand 
to attract and hold for poultry the wevils that will yet emerge 
from infested bolls and squares on the cut off plants, there is no 
need for the fertility destroying burning of the plants, nor for 
the cumbersome and doubtful burying. The burning of the stalks 
not only means a loss of organic matter contained in them but it 
means a much greater loss through the action of the fire on the 
soil. On the other hand the stalks, if left as they were cut off, 
will rot enough by becoming" overgrown by the covercrop to 
cause no trouble when the covercrop is plowed in. The stalks 
thus act beneficially by lessening evaporation of water, by keep- 
ing a more even temperature, preventing eorsion, especially 
while the cover crop is yet small, and finally furnishing humus. 

Poultry can, under the supervision of man, be forced to pa- 
trol the cotton fields during the growing season as needed. Early 
in the season cotton fields offer very little inducement for wild 
birds to visit them: food being found much more readily else- 
where, especiallv in woods and orchards. 

If a field to be planted to cotton is properly plow^ed well a- 
head of planting time, few if any wevils that may have been hi- 
bernating within will he able to emerge, and infestation will be 
from without. As long as there are no squares, these wevils all 
stay close to the edge of the field, feeding in the tips of the 
plants where poultry can readily see them. By the time squares 
appear, usually only about half of the wevils have 3^et emerged. 
On pages 5 to 7 of my Circular No. 150, you find explained in 
detail that wevils then prompth^ scatter over the field because 
they then want to feed and oviposit in squares, unless secured, 
by man under my former plan, and by poultry under my new 
plan, within a day or two after their arrival at the edge. Even 
then, however, infestation usually remains near the edge, grad- 
ually progressing all over the field as infestation increases. Thus 
it is doubtless best all around to leave the work of reducing the 
number of hibernated wevils to poultry. 



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With the wevils reduced the fall before throup:h the use of 
trap patches, and such trap patches again coming into use, in 
due time, the following season, and poultry on the watch virtual- 
ly at all times, there is no chance for the wevil, the bollworm and 
most other insects to appear in harmful numbers; all of which 
the Entomologist claims he has investigated and found to be im- 
practicable. This when he has nothing to offer for his plan of 
hand-picking by man, after the wevils have scattered all over 
the field, is only "guardedly" recommended, so that he can 
make his get-a-way. 

Cultivation destroys the natural home of wild birds. All the 
protection man can give under the circumstances is not sufficient 
to counteract the decrease in numbers thus occasioned. Again, 
since cultivation destroys the fruits and seeds manv of these 
wild birds normally live on, they cannot increase in numbers 
sufficient to at least partly protect the cultivated crops, without 
being compelled to levv a corresponding toll upon the crops. The 
gallinaceous domesticated birds are developed from a species 
that was capable of read}' flight, lived lo to 15 years, the female 
la3^ing a few small eggs each spring. 

The domesticated kind, evolved by selection, being unable 
to fl3^ to an}^ extent, is thus specially fitted to work under the 
supervision of man when and where it is wanted, doing thus lit- 
tle or no harm, while doing good. And their number can be 
regulated by man entirely corresponding to the need for their 
services. 

Thus, in the control of the three insects thus far mentioned, 
there does not enter the use of any artificial means, poultry, un- 
der the supervision of man, doing the work. Hence, this being 
a clear-cut issue, it would seem best to force the Entomologist to 
talk on these first. 

I have shown in my Circulars Nos. 147 to 150 that there are 
many other insects where poultry can thus be used to best ad- 
vantage* and quite a number where their use offers the only 
practical means of control. Grain and forage crops infested by 
pests, often can be similarly controled by poultry as is the range 
caterpillar, also it was shown that various caterpillars affecting 



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timber trees can be coiitroled by poultry- when all else is im- 
practicable, usually by the poultry scratchiiii^: for their pupae be- 
low the surface of the ground. 

It is not often that an insect is exposed to view during all 
of its life cycle as is the range caterpillar, nor that it is within 
the easiest possible reach of poultry at all times. 

The gipsy and browntail moth, considered as pests affecting 
woodlands, because of the loss value of trees grown for timber, 
call for inexpensive means of control. Farmers' Bulletin No. 564 
issued in 1914, pretends to offer such means. x-\s explained more 
in detail on pages 17 and 18 of my Circular No. 147, and on 
pages 7 and 8 of Circular No, 149, poultry can reduce the gipsy 
moth in woodlands through securing part of the eggs, securing 
some of the young caterpillars that tali off the trees or spin down, 
scrape out older caterpillars that hide at the base of the trees 
during the day, and secure some of the females before they ovi- 
posit. 

In addition, since the males are strongly attracted to light, 
they could be trapped w^ith a trap such as I offer. This point is 
discussed on pages 4 to 7 of my Circular No. 147. Also on pages 
14 and 15 of my Circular No. 149, in discussing the control of 
the leopard moth it is shown how the apparatus shown on last 
page, or some similar make, can be fitted at small cost for a trap 
to catch these insects in large numbers. 

Farmers' Bulletin No. 788, the leopard moth, on page 9, 
gives a good idea of what Chief Howard thinks makes a trap. 
He sslys: "To what extent electric lights are serviceable ... has 
not been definitely determined, — a method frequently advised 
consists in placing shallow pans around the electric light poles 
to attract the moths; the pans are partially filled with water and 
a small quantity of kerosene is poured into them. The moths fly- 
ing against the globes drop into the pans and are prompth^ kill- 
ed when they come in contact with the oil." 

As these globes are suspended about twenty feet above the 
ground at the intersections of the centerlines of the streets, or 
drivewa^^s in parks, I cannot see how "pans placed around elec- 
tric light poles" could ever be close enough to the globe to catch 



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moth; and therefore, I contend that the advise is all drawn from 
imagination and that nothing" whatever has been determined as 
claimed. 

Also, Chief Howard does not want to talk about beneficial 
and neutral insects that would also be caught. When I sent my 
first catch — about 1500 insects, mostly ground beetles, which 
are, on the whole, beneficial — to the Bureau, Chief Howard said 
that if this is a fair sample of what the torch catches, its use 
should be prohibited by law. 

To use any trap to advantage the user has to know at least 
approximately what kinds of insects he is catching, so that he 
may use the trap only when there is a paying catch of injurious 
insects being made. Assuming the Entomologist or someone else 
has a trap that w^orks satisfactorily, it is the Entomologist's bus- 
iness to encourage its use and educate the public to using it. 
But with the Entomologist persistently claiming I am wrong all 
around, it is unwise for me to push the use of a torch for a trap 
and other matters, till other things not involving the use of any 
apparatus has been settled. On page 5 of my Circular No. 147, 
short reference is made to matter I published in regard to trap 
tests, made by the late Prof. M. V. Slingerland. Cornell Univer- 
sity, Utica, N. Y. These tests showed that mere pans with 
water and kerosene do not catch anything worth while, and par- 
ticularly nothing in the way of strong iiiers, of which the leopard 
moth is one, and so is the male of the gipsy moth, and both 
sexes of the brown tail moth. 

The method you find described by me admits the insects to 
the red hot burner through a ring of light about i ^ inches wide. 
formed by two simple corresponding cone-shaped attachments 
placed at this distance apart, and because of the heat, the daz- 
zling light — dazzling by comparison with the darkness outside — 
and the narrow space within, they become momentarily disabled 
and drop through a hole in the low^er cone into a pail below. But 
where bright lights interfere, or if a wider range of attraction is 
wanted, as would he wanted in the case of timber insects in gen- 
eral, I would use something else. 

The Bureau of Ethnology has no tangible means whatever 



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for controliiiR the gipsy moth in woodlands, except the breeding 
of parasites and predator}^ insects. 

Since these parasites are admitedly equally subject to attack 
by natural enemies, they cannot, admitedly, be safisfactorly con- 
trolled by man. 

The Bureau, because of this now proposes, to give the ad- 
vise to change as far as practicable the deciduous woodlands to 
coniferous ones, because the gipsy moth can live only upon con- 
iferous after having passed the first two stages upon deciduous 
vegatation. 

As explained on pages 2 to 5 of my Circular No. 148 and 
elsewhere, as there quoted, the pines of New England, and ap- 
parently all over the country, are now becoming infested by the 
European pine shoot moth. As this insect selects nearly always 
the apical bud for oviposition, if as yet uninfested, I had pointed 
out that pouring some semi-liquid clay into the apical cluster of 
buds before oviposition starts w^ould protect it, the female then 
merely selectin a side shoot for oviposition. 

The Bureau has no means of control. What they pass off as 
such is 140 years old and consists in removing the infected 
shoots. This, if the insect is at all plentiful, results in trees so 
crooked and dwarfed, dwarfed through the repeated destruction 
of the apical bud through successive years, as to possess no val- 
ue. 

This insect is night flying, and as near as can be seen a 
satisfactory trap is the only feasible means of reducing the num- 
ber of the adults. 

There is no assurance whatever, in fact all odds are against 
it, that it would be possible to make it pay to so keep down de- 
ciduous vegetation that there would not be plenty of food to en- 
able the gipsy moth to pass through the first two stages. But 
even if this were feasible, the Bureau has no means of controlling 
the pine shoot moth, and wants to condemn the plan evolved by 
me. 

For control of the brown tail moth in woodlands the Bureau 
likewise, has nothing to offer, but claims that "elimination of 



do) 

oak, scrub-apple and wild cherr}' would greath' assist in reduc- 
ing the numbers of this pest." (Farm Bull. No. 564, page 20). 
Oak is pretty hard to eliminate, and as the female can readily 
fl^' long distances, thej^ simpl}- would oviposit in orchards. Be- 
sides the caterpillar also develops ver3^ readih' on plum and wil- 
low, also, for second choice, on elm and maple. In fact the cat- 
erpillar feeds generally upon all deciduous trees, on many shrubs 
and even upon herbage. (Farm Bulletin No. 264, page 16.) 

It must be born in mind that for successful breeding little 
of the preferred food plants, such as oak, is needed to enable all 
the caterpillars hatching from eggs concentrated thereon to com 
plete about one-third of their growth, after which time the}' can, 
by migrating, complete their growth on less suitable food. 

As both sexes are strong fivers and much attached to bright 
lights, and because the females oviposit much more heavily in 
territory adjacent to bright lights, the most feasible means of 
protecting all of the valuable food plants thus affected would 
consist in trapping the adults at these lights. I have very defh- 
nite ideas of how this could be successfully done, but with the 
Entomologist allowed to misuse his office I want to do nothing. 

In woodlands, since these caterpillars frequently spin down, 
also often fall off, or blow off by wind, poultry would keep them 
at least partly under control. It is not known to what extent 
poultry can eat these harry caterpillars, but there is very little 
doubt that they can stand considerable of the smaller size when 
taken along with other food. The trouble is, neither the Bureau 
of Biological Survey nor the Poultry Division of the Bureau of 
Animal Industry have any positive knowledge on this point to 
offer. If the Entomologist had wanted investigations to be made, 
and the point is he claims his experts made investigations of all 
of m\' suggestions, he had his own staff to do this quite easily. 

On page 18 of my Circular No. 150 I stated that the alfalfa 
wevil is known to be readily found (and then eaten) by poultry. 
The source of information for this statement is found in Agricul- 
tural Bulletin No. 107, page 57, contributed by the Biological 
survey, 19 14. The rather detailed evidence there given pretty 
conclusivelv shows that it is onlv a matter of getting e- 



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noug:h of poultry on the job to make Mr. Wevil scarce. Under 
date of Jan. 6, 1917, Mr. W. L. McAtee of the Biological Sur- 
vey writes, in essence, that when opportunity affords, the Bureau 
will be glad to make observations on the use of poultry in de- 
stroying boll wevils, although the work relating to domestic 
fowls pertains to the Bureau of Animal Industry. Youthus here 
see that, in common with every sane man, Mr. McAtee does not 
look at such use of poultry as impractical suggestions as the 
Entomologist claims his experts pronounce it to be. The adult 
alfalfa wevil is of about the same size as the boll wevil. As for 
the immature stages, poultry forced to stay in cotton fields will 
be mighty quick to pick on fallen squares and should be quick 
in learning to hunt for the one containing a juicy grub. The 
Bureau of Entomology had far the best means and biggest op- 
propriations to test this out. 

Since apple, pear, plum and cherry are the favorite food 
plants of the browntail moth, orchards are their favorite feeding 
ground. This problem of control is discussed more in detail 
along with that of the gipsy moth at the passages cited. The 
young caterpillars hatch after the middle of August and spend 
the winter in webs in the top branches of the trees. In the spring 
"if the infection is bad, the caterpillars are often numerous e- 
nough to devour the leaves as fast as the trees are able to devel- 
op them." (Farm Bui. No. 564, page 9.) Thus since poison 
then could not be used, the Bureau advocates a spraying of 6 to 
10 pounds arsenate of lead to 100 gallons of water, applied by 
the middle of August to kill the young caterpillars soon after 
hatching, a course expensive and uncertain, because there is 
much vareation in time of hatching, and objectionable of danger 
of poisoning fruit. 

Of course a high power sprayer is required, The voung 
caterpillar, if not killed then, will do but little damage that fall, 
and an excellent way of control would be to go over the orchard 
after the most of the leaves have fallen, say after the middle of 
October, with a torch outfit constructed after the principle of the 
towersprayer outfit, as described on pages 11 to 13 of my Circu- 
lar No. 147. Selecting a warm spell the caterpillars will be ac- 



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live and drop ott upon feeling the heat. This would not kill them, 
at least not at once, but poultry might be kept handy to pick 
them up. They are then only about one-half inch long. Besides 
in the absence of poultry, the ground can be licked where the^" 
fall, thus killing them. 

This use of the torch makes for the cheapest insect killing 
agent known, where chemicals cannot readily be used. Also the 
flame destroys the spores of fungi. This was conceeded as far 
back as 13 year ago by the State Entomologist of Illinois, a mat- 
ter dfscussed at some length on pages 10 and 12 of m^- Circular 
No. 148. Every one connected with agriculture in the Eastern 
States knows of the damage done by fungi. During hot moist 
weather in summer, a licking with a torch is extremely swift 
and cheap, and works in wet weather, while spraying does not. 

A torch outfit of the tower type, it is shown on page 9 to 13 
of my Circular No. 147, is far the best means of controlling 
the insect, admitedly extremely injurious, now getting a good 
foothold in the East. As there explained all you have to do is 
apply a mild licking with the flame while the insect is in the lar- 
val stage, when upon feeling the heat they will drop, when the}' 
can be killed through more heat applied to the ground. The Bu- 
reau has nothing at all that can approach this in cheapness and 
efficiency. 

As near as I ever could learn, I was the first to apply heat 
from a torch for the destruction of insects. I did this first in 
the late summer of 1896, with a view of trying to get rid of harle- 
quin cabbage bugs. The following year this was kept up on in- 
sects in general, and it was incidentally found, that the adult 
harlequin bugs would fly to tassels of sweet-corn, where they 
could be more easily secured. I suggested to the Secretary of 
Agriculture in 1898. after publishing what I had found, that this 
and other original knowledge I had published be acquired for the 
public benefit. He said the government never had done any- 
thing of this kind. Bad as this was the Entomologist now goes 
him one better and claims I. am wrong all around. Taking this 
harlequin bug for example, the country must sustain needless 
heavv loss. In my Circular No. 141 I had pointed out that better 



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trap-plants for this insect could be secured b}^ seeing to it to 
have always some coneiferous plant going to seed, as then the 
bugs would congregate on the seed stalks. Again, on page 24 of 
mv Circular No. 147 it was further shown that poultry given ac- 
cess to these trap plants would pick off the adults, and thus the 
whole matter of disposing of these highly troublesome pests can 
be made to almost take care of itself. This insect is highly in- 
jurious in the Southern States. Thus the New Mexico Experi- 
ment Station in one of their latest reports states that this insect 
ranks first as a truck-crop pest jn that state. The Entomologist 
has nothing that is practicable. 

Another highly injurious sucking insect for the control of 
which the Entomologist and his boasted experts have no practi- 
cal means of control is the Mexican Conchucla, referred to in 
various places in my Circulars No. 147 to 150, and discussed in 
detail in my Circular No. 140, pages i to 15. This insect feeds 
on almost anything, but prefers fruits and seeds. 

Poultry in quantity will keep them in check on alfalfa or 
other early lowgrowing crops, and by seeing to it that suitable 
trap-crops Milo-maize for instance, to concentrate them on, are 
supplied later, and have them picked off there by poultry, such 
crops as peaches or grapes can largel}' be kept free. 

This application of heat is also far the best means of control 
for insects hiding in the ground or about a plant during the 
night and cool part of the day, of which class the hop flee beetle 
and the chinch bug are good examples, Thev are discussed at 
length in previous Circulars. 

If the loss to Texas by the boll weevil is 27 million dollars a 
year, it is about 75 million for all of the infested area. My plan 
saves this whole loss since under it poultry will keep this 
and other pests in check, so that the plant will be able to set all 
the fruit it can possibly mature. Taking all the evidence sub- 
mitted by me, it is worth in insect-and fungus control over half 
a billion dollars a year. 

Representative Hawley upon getting his second batch of 
lies was asked to see to it that the Entomologist be forced to 



(i4) 

meet the issue. He did not secure any further reply. In common 
with all the other members of Congress I had tried before, with 
one exception, he did not want to express himself in any way as 
to whether or not the evidence submitted is sound, just as if he, 
in common wnth the rest, had no brains at all, and were not ex- 
pected to have any and to use them. 

The exception in the case is the representative of the 2nd 
California Distrjct, Hon. John E. Raker, to whom reference is 
made on page 12 of my Circular No. 148. Upon the issuance 
of my Circular No. 147 his attention was called to this matter, 
because Senator Gore had flatly refuse to do his duty, and he 
declared himself ready to see to it that it be carried through for 
whatever merit it might possess for the benefit of the public. In 
common w^ith everybody else, including the Entomologist, he 
was unable to point out anything that was not sound reasoning. 

When my Circular No. 148 appeared in March 1916, he sug- 
gested, since Senator Gore and Representative Lever had taken 
no action, that I take the matter up with Senator Morris Shep- 
pard, he being chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in 
the Department of Agriculture. This was done and the matter 
was brought to the attention of many other members of Congress, 
which caused Mr. Raker to remark that this should bring results. 
The results wanted were, that the Entomologist be forced to 
either admit that I am right, or show wherein I am wrong. Well, 
it did not bring any such results. Upon the issuance of my Cir- 
cular No. 149 Senator Sheppard was again kept posted and he 
asked the Department of Agriculture for an explanation. The 
result was that under date of August 15 he wrote me he had been 
advised my plans are not practicable, and that therefore he did 
not desire to push the matter further. He never gave me a look 
at What advise he got. Thus, he wanted to hang me without a 
chance of defense. 

Meanwhile Mr. Raker was kept posted, and upon getting a 
copy of my Circular No. 150, he wrote, "Keep up your work and 
results are bound to follow." This was not saying much, but 
was saying more than all the rest of the Congressmen I had tried 



(i5) 

before, put tos^ether. He, being unable to see anything but 
sound evidence, simply wanted me to see it through, believing 
this to be best for the public weal. 

The evidence submitted shows that the Entomologist is 
humbugging the people with their own good money. That, there- 
fore, there is not a Congressman whose constituants are not af- 
fected, and that, therefore, all members of Congress are in duty 
bound to have the matter sifted to the bottom. 

Mr. Raker having expressed a willingness to co-operate 
with Mr. Hawley to the extent of getting the U. S. Entomologist 
to define his position, he was asked, while this Circular was be- 
ing prepared, to use his influence to get the Entomologist to act. 
As a result I receive on March 17th a copy of the reply Mr. Ra- 
ker had received from the Department of Agriculture. It simply 
was a bundle of lies However, unlike all previous statements it 
contained specific statements which were expected to be taken 
for proof by Mr. Raker that I am wrong. These statements, al! 
short, refer to the control of the range caterpillar, the boll wevil 
and the Argentine ant. 

In the case of the range caterpillar the Department claims 
that my plan of control consists in "that turkeys be secured in 
sufficient numbers to destroy the insect. It has been shown how- 
ever, that on account of the poisonous hairs born by the cater- 
pillar, turkeys will not feed upon it." This when it had been 
pointed out to the Bureau from the beginning, nearly two years 
ago, that the period when the caterpillar has poisonous hairs is 
the most unfavorable time to attack it, that the insect is within 
the reach of poultry the whole year around, and that the correct 
time for attack is while it is present as egg, as young larva, 
as pupae and as adult, as explained in detail' on pages i to 4 of 
my Circular No. 150, and also in this Circular. 

As the adults deposit their eggs on stems of wild grasses or 
on weeds, the resulting caterpillars, no matter how plentiful, find 
enough food for partial development on the range, but as they 
run short, they attack, as far as accessible, cultivated grasses 
and grains. It would be quit impossible to protect these crops 



(i6) 

b}^ poisoning, since the caterpillar, being of the class of the 
tussock moth, the gipsy moth and the browntail moth, or well 
known to be extremel}^ resistant to poisons once they are ahcut 
one-third grown, hence coming as they do in hordes, the}^ 
would usually eat up the crop first before the poison could have 
any possible effect. Hence with the Bureau silent on this point 
all along, the only possible means of protecting cultivated crops 
consists in keeping them down to harmless numbers on the range. 

The Bureau's only proposed plan of control consist? in re- 
lying on artificial introduction of parasites and of predatory bee- 
tles. This is also the course that has been followed for the con- 
trol of the gipsy moth in woodlands. But the Bureau frankly 
admits that these parasites may in turn be decimated at any 
time by hyper-parasites preying upon them, and for this reason 
the Bureau pointed out that a surer means of avoiding damage 
consists in changing the easily injured deciduous woodlands 
to less easily injured coniferous tracts; a proposition that 
holds out no chance of financial success. 

In regard to the possibility of growing grain for poultry in 
the range caterpillar belt. Mr. H. N. Vinall, of the Bureau of 
Plant Industry was sounded for an opinion. He said in substance 
that while rainfall is light even for sorghums it is possible to 
grow fair crops of Dwarf milo and feterita. For details see Far- 
mers' Bulletin No. 322, and Circular No. 122C. 

In regard to my plan for controlling the boll weevil the De- 
partment says: "Mr. Reinlein's suggestion is that chickens be 
provided in sufficient numbers to destroy all or most of the wee- 
vils as soon as they make their way into the fields." 

On page 7 of my Circular No. 150 you find explained why 
I had previously claimed that, by giving poultry, raised in suffi- 
cient quantities to do the work, the run about the fields ^during 
the period of emergence this "would certainly result in material 
reduction at small cost." Ask the Department what they have 
to attack the weevil with at this period. They have nothing. They 
deliberately want to convey the inference that it would be quite 
impracticable to have poultry in sufficient quantity handy, be- 



(i7) 

cause, there bein^ no use for it at other times, it would be im- 
possible to have them ready during the period of emergence. 
They deliberately keep silent on the evidence shown on pages *8 
to lo of mv Circular No. 150, which describes in detail the feas- 
ibility of the use of poultry practically the year around, not on- 
ly for the control of the boll weevil, but also of the boll worm, 
the cotton catterpillar and several other important cotton in- 
sects. They also want to convey the inference that there would 
not also be plenty of work for poultry on other crops, thus mak- 
ing it possible to economically sustain large flocks the year a- 
round. 

As explained on page 8 the Bureau's plan of plowing out the 
plants in the fall, impracticable as it is on the whole, or the cut- 
ting off of the plants, forces the weevil to hunt for food, and, 
finding none, causes it to adapt itself to feed and breed upon 
plants other than cotton. As shown there, it is manifest that if 
this habit is allowed to bscoms fixed, control by the destruction 
of the cotton plants in the fall, what there is of it now, wnll lose 
its value, and control will bs made indefinitel more difficult. To 
counteract this tendancy, I shovved there, as also in this Circular 
that the best thing that can be done, is to provide trap patches 
of verv late planted cotton. The Department wants to keep quiet on 
this point, also wants to keep silent on how these trap patches 
incidentally make possible the complete control of the boll w^orm. 
Nor do they want to admit that poultry would pick on the fallen 
infested squares and destroy the grubs within, keeping up this 
work through all of the fruit setting season. 

This habit of poultry of picking on fallen infested fruit I 
had shown can be taken advantage of in many other cases. Smce 
the Bureau wants to keep silent I wish to point out that this 
habit is of very great value in the control of fruitflies, such as the 
apple-maggot or the Mediterranean fruit-fly, (Ent. Cir. No. 160) 
because, it will be shown, this course is the only really feasible 
means of control. 

Admittedly, for this group of insects, "no very successful 
msans of control have bsen found." The Mediterranean fruit-flv 



(i8) 

has not yet invaded this country, so far as known, but it is in 
Hawaii, found there in 1910; and in Bermuda, supposed to be 
there for about 503'ears. Hence, since it infests practically ev- 
ery kind of fruit, including the tomato, egg-plant, string bean, 
prickly-pear and pumkin, may have been brought into this 
country years ago, but b_v having plenty of chance to diffuse and 
by being similar in its work to the apple-maggot, may not yet 
have been noticed. 

Because of the great range of food plants, wild and cultiva- 
ted, little good can be expected from the collection and destruc- 
tion of fallen infested fruit. As a result "in regions where the 
pest is well established, as in Australia and South Africa, much 
attention has been given to devising effective remedies, other 
than the collection and destruction of fallen fruit. A plan ... was 
the covering of the trees with netting and ... was thougnt to be 
practical. ... This plan apparently has not been followed to any 
great extent." 

The only other known means that has anN' chance of success 
is the more recent use in South Africa of a poisoned bait spray- 
ed over the trees for the destruction of the adult flies, evolved 
by Mr. C. W. Mally (Ent. Cir. No. 160, page 18). The results 
were surprisingly good. To get these results, however, it was 
necessar\' that the bait was evenh' distributed over the trees, 
prickly pears, bush, etc., around the orchard — Practically all 
the flies present during any one day found it very quickly and 
fed on it to their destruction..." (p. 19) 14 applications were 
thus made and the cost for material was about 8c per tree. What 
it cost with the labor added is wisely left out. Again, rains 
might interfere, and the application of the spra>' to fruit as it is 
approaching maturit_v might prove objectionable." Nothing is 
said as to what effect such continued poisoning would have on 
other insects, beneficial or neutral. 

"...When (the larva are) fully developed, w^hich usually re- 
quires a fortnight or three weeks, thev leave the fruit, w^hich has 
as a rule fallen several days previouslv, and enter the ground, 
seldom going deeper than one inch, depending on the nature of 
the soil. There they soon change to pupaeia and remain for 12 



(i9) 

days to three weeks, depending: on the season — (p. 13).. Pupae 
were present under some of the deca3^ing peaches.,.. (p- 18). 

Thus poultry going about cultivated or wild vegetation in- 
infested, would simply have to pick on fallen fruit and thus 
either hnd larva within, or would, upon turning the fruit, often 
find pupae in full view, while those not feasible will be found by 
scratching, usually within an inch of that very point. Hence, 
economical control of this insect, or of the apple maggot, clearly 
calls for the widest possible use of poultry; this is simply making 
a systematic use of a domesticated kind of natural enemy. It 
(the Mediterranean fruit fly) is without question the most de- 
structive fruit pest on record in the w^orld toda3^"[p. 10] 

"The Argentine Ant," the Department tells Mr. Raker, '*is 
and insect which makes its nest in buildings.... Mr. Reinlein's 
plan is to use a plumber's torch to drive the ants, which he be- 
lieves Will carry their eggs and larva with them, iilto the open 
where it wmII be devoured by poultry." 

Every word is a lie. 

In Entomology Bulletin No. 122 you read: "At all the in- 
fested points the levee is found to be teeming with the ants and the 
batture itself is a constant breeding place... Here the ant colo- 
nies are found under every particle of drittwood and trash and 
during almost the entire year they are in attendance upon Coc- 
cidffi and Aphidida^ upon the willows." Ask the Departmeni 
what means they have to control the pest there or on crops, 
whereby attending lice and scale insects they make, it is estima- 
ted by the Department, on the average 5 specimens grow where, 
in their absence, one formerly was found before. 

The Department has nothing, absolutely nothing that is at 
all feasible. Just the same they want to deliberately fool the pub- 
lic by refusing to even admit that poultry raised in a systematic 
way to cope with such an enormous proposition has a chance to 
be of anv value. This when they, in Bulletin No. 122 state that 
the ants, when unmolested, very greatly interfere in the rais- 
ing of chicks, from which it follows that poultry is by nature an 
enemv of this pest. 



(20) 

In summer time the ants appear to do as little excavating 
as possible and seem to limit their efforts to excluding light and 
water, etc. [E. B. No. 122, p. 56.] In case of danger the work- 
ers' first instinct appears to be to remove the young [egg, larva, 
pupae] to a place of safety, and they readily sacrifice their own 
lives in order to accomplish this, [p, 40] Thus poultry, given a 
chance, will simply scratch the whole combination up and eat 
them up. For a beginning, however, to get a flock established at 
this work in a badly infested locality, I had pointed out that it 
might be of benefit to assist them some. One way would consist 
in accelerating their destrucfibn by the use of a blast torch, the 
kind shown on last page being a good type, and another way 
would consist in exposing quick acting poisoned sweets to the 
ants, which latter kills a limited number and drives the rest a- 
wa}^ from that particular place, giving poultry an undisturbed 
roosting place at night. 

It is manifest that there is much wild land that needs clear- 
ing, and a man wishing to rear poultry there should be welcomed 
b}' any owner to do so, and this would result in a self-sustaining 
well pajMug business, but if this work could not be made to pay 
for itself, it would have to be done just the same, since there is 
no more feasible wav known, and since without it the ants would 
be masters of the land, and stay masters. 

On page 1 1 of my Circular No. 150 I made reference to Ag- 
riculture Bulletin No. 377, giving the results of poison experi- 
ments to control the ants in houses. I showed on pages 11 to 
14 that the most feasible means to obtain this consists in first of 
all giving the widest possible use to poultry outside, and then 
control the ants that have gone to nest in the houses b^' exposing 
quick acting poisons, which kills a few and drives the rest away 
quickly, stating expressly on page 13 that, "the use of poisoned 
sweets for control in houses is a necessity." No talk about an^' 
torch at all. You probabh' did not look for any such skillful ly- 
ing on the part of any Executive Department. 

"The experts of the Department are of the opinion that Mr. 
Reinlein's plans are entirely impracticable ", the Department 



winds up its yarn. Then just let them point out what plans de- 
scribed in this circular are impracticable. 

The Bureau makes no attempt to point out any means ot 
controlling- any invasion of cultivated crops by the ran^e cater- 
pillar. There are no means that can be pointed out- Neither 
they nor anyone else has any, except it be continued hand pick- 
ing-. How entirely futile the use of arsenicals would be can be 
gathered from a record of an outbreak of the yellow-bear cater- 
pillar given in Entomology Bulletin No. 82, part V. "judging 
from the results of these experiments, the arsenicals [applied to 
larva one-fourth to three-fourths grown, whereas the rang cater- 
pillar invades the ciop when nearly full grown, and is much 
larger] cannot be depended on to control. "[p. 66] "On reach- 
ing maturity the larva crawl under heaps of dead v\'eeds, tufts of 
grass.... In such quarters, which offer but slight protection the3^ 

construct frail cocoons There is no better method of fighting 

this species than to burn the weeds, grass etc., under which the 
pupae, [of the hibarnating brood,] find protection — " 

But there is a batter way: Poultr}^ given the run through 
such weeds, grass etc., will be able to get many of these pupae. 
Besides there is also a Spring brood with insects in the pupael 
stage during summer even still lighter protected- This course of 
control I had shown in previous circulars to be applicable in 
many other cases; especially in the control of certain timber in- 
sects. 

Whatever would burn is intended by nature to serve as pro- 
tection for the plants and tor the animal life subsisting under 
their protection, for providing breeding ground for ground dwell- 
ing birds, for increasing humus, retaining moisture, preventing 
erosion. Hence, such burning, often recommended by the Bureau 
in similar cases, cannot be too strongly condemned. 

Details for meeting the conditions that w^ill be encountered 
in carrying on poultry raising on a large scale in the range cat- 
erpillar territory are given in my Circular No. 146, pp. 9 to 14. 
I may add that, since the succulent plants in that area are usual- 
ly protected by strong spines, hence are not available for food, 
it is feasible, where they are available, to render daily a small 



(22) 

patch of them fit for nourishment, since they then provide both 
food and drink. This can be done through the use of a cactus 
burner or a hot air blast torch. A suitable t3^pe is shown on the 
last page of this Circular. A little grain scattered through that 
patch will attract all of the poultry to that spot. A supply of 
feed can as readily be provided on the range as anywhere, 
through the raising, in suitable valleys, of grains adapted to 
semi-arid areas. It is also practical to raise green feed for win- 
ter feeding, since at least the necessary breeding stock has to be 
carried over, by the raising of root crops, hardy and not hardy, 
and of vegetable plants, hardy in that territory, such as kale 
and Brussel sprouts. 

It is true that on page 12 of Bulletin No. 443 the Bureau 
claims cultivated cereal crops can be protected against the range 
caterpillar by spraying with a solution of one pound of powdered 
arsenate of lead to 50 gallons of water. But where are the tests 
to prove such an idiotic claim? The Bureau has found it neces- 
sary to recommend the use of 3 to 5 pounds of arsenate of lead 
to 50 gallons of w^ater for the destruction of newh^ hatched larva 
of the browntail moth, then what can you expect from a third 
and lifth strength solution of this where "the full grown larva 
frequenth' measures 2/2 inches in length, with the diameter of a 
man's index finger," (Bull. No. 85, p. 78) and w^here there is a 
continual stream coming in from the surrounding range? 

All the essential features of this, and much other matter be- 
sides, was explained to Mr. Raker by the use of marked and an- 
notated copies of my Circulars No. 146 to 150, and Mr. Raker 
was asked to hand this up to the Department for action, after 
having examined same. This he did, and he got the following 
reply: "The experts of this Department are of the opinion that 
Mr. Reinlein's plans are impractical. Apparently he is writing 
theoretically and without any first-hand knowledge of the insect 
concerned." 

Thus seeing that Mr. Raker was giving me a chance at 
making a defense, thev did not want to make any specific state- 
ment this time, and did expect Mr. Raker to let the matter rest 
upon their word that I am wrong, this when thev had been asked 



(23) 

to show why their previous letter had not been a bundle of lies. 
Naturall}^ Mr. Raker was asked, under date of April 13th, to 
prosecute the matter further. 

The far-reaching evils of erosion, their cause, their effect 
and t leir prevention, are describsd in Yearbood Separate No. 
688, Farms, Forests, and Erosion. ''In general anvthingthat in- 
creases surface run-off, increases erosion... As a rule it is onl}' 
when the natural protective cover of forests, brush, grass and 
other plants is disturbed that serious and long continued erosion 
results"' (page 8) 

This is all new to the U. S. Entomologist and his experts, 
judging by what they write. A good sample ot what they write 
appeared recently in Agricultural Bulletin No. 416; The Red 
Spider on Cotton. Under heading of Remedial" Measures, you 
read on page 60: "Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the 
importance of ridding all field borders, ditch banks, terraces, 
etc. of all vegetation as far as possible — " 

Since cotton is only one of the 183 kinds of plants the red 
spider is known to feed on, employing this means in this and 
in other cases as advocated by the Bureau, for instance in the 
destruction of hibernating quarters for the chinch bug and the 
boll weevil, would, a perusal of Separate No. 688 will convince 
you, in the course of a comparative short time, turn the country 
into a desert. 

But aside from this I had shown throughout my Circulars 
No. 139 to 150 that such destruction of host plants is all wrong, 
and that the correct way of control consists in using the prefer- 
red host-pants for traps if they are to be used at all as a means 
of control. Since the Entomologist has been talking for about a 
year to the effect that I am wrong all around, without offering a 
particle of proof, I now prove them to be wrong once more, from 
the latest available evidence. 

On page 59 the authors state that the red spiders hibernate 
on several of the native and door-yard plants. "These hosts 
serve as sources of dispersion." Of course, what else could they 
do if not treated. "By destroying during winter and early spring 



(24) 

polkweed, Jerusalem oak, Jamestown weed, wild blackberr}^ 
w^ild geranium and other plants w^hich breed the pest, much good 
W'ill be done. This plan has been tested by the writer in several 
instances and has given complete immunity the following sea- 
son..." How these plants w^ere destroyed is not stated, proba- 
bly by burning and grubbing out. How^ about the next season? 
Has that work to be done over again every season? Of course 
w^ith first choice food plants rem^oved, the spiders will subsist on 
second, third and last choice plants. True, there is no practical 
wa}' to treat the plants, especially in out of the wa}^ places, ex- 
cept bv the w^a}' shown b}^ me as far back as 1898, b3' using the 
hot air blast, for which work the type of torch shown on last 
page is ver3^ suitable. These weeds are very often not on the 
owners land and,' anyway, if on waste places; should be left there 
except to give something better a chance, which in turn, will al- 
so harbor spiders, 

" In several instances of past severe annual infestation, 

violets" (probably the most favored winter food plant) "adjoin- 
ing fields have been thoroughly spra^^ed, wath the result that no 
red spider appeared in these fields..," Therefore 3^ou see if you 
only did treat these plants, thev would act as traps instead of 
sources of dispersion. And hot air furnished by a torch is ex- 
tremel}' cheap. Then again, since these plants ma^' not be on 
the owners land, he can keep his crop clean b}^ giving the plants 
near the source of infectation an occasional slight licking with 
a torch. 

With a practical means of controlling them on the crop at 
hand, there is some very good reason why the winter host plants 
should be left to themselves. Anything that kills the spiders 
kills also, as a rule, the natural enemies that are present. If the 
host plants are not treated, the}'- usualh^ become heavih^ infested 
and in turn-much sought after by natural enemies of the spider, 
causing the latter to increase in number. As the spider does not 
spread fast the use of a torch near the edge of the field makes it 
possible to absolutely control invasion. 

Again, taking cotton for a sample, this crop is attacked bv 
man^' other enemies. Suppose infestation by red spider had 



(25) 

been prevented through desiruction of host plants, but the cot- 
ton aphis were taking a hold. Repeated slight swift lickings 
with a torch are far the best and cheapest means ol control for 
this insect, and for aphis in general. On the other hand if noth- 
ing was done and red spider is invading the crop, the spider is 
thus being taken care of without extra work. 

In thus using a torch other larger insects present will be 
noticed, because they start to run when the,v feel the heat from 
the torch, when they can be killed. A large part of these would 
require hand picking or expensive contact insecticides. However, 
as will be shown later in discussing boll weevil control, poultry 
can be made to take care of these. 

It has been suggested to Mr. Raker that the matter had 
reached a stage when it would be speciallv opportune to have 
him call the attention of Mr. Lever, Chairman of the House 
Co;miittee on Agriculture, to it. As a result a letter was received 
from him May 8, containing the following: ..."it is my purpose 
to work with Mr. Raker or any other member of Congress that 
can and will give their assistance to this matter. The Department 
claims there is nothing in your idea, that you are wrong on all 
points." 

Thus Mr. Raker himself has found no evidence that I am 
wrong. On the contrary wants to be shown if there is an3«thing 
wrong about it. As for assistance, Mr. Lever is bound under 
the law to make the Department meet the issues, admit that I 
am right or else show what is wrong. 

That poultry raising as a means of controlling certain insects 
can be made to pay, and pay big, is pretty conclusively proven 
by evidence presented in Year-book Separate No. 700: The 
Thanksgiving Turkey. There on page 4 you find an account of 
successful turkey-ranching carried on "in the unsettled foot-hill 
region of California, and in certain sections of Arizona and other 
western states." If turke}^ can thus be profitably raised on a 
large scale in semi-arid, mountainous and very thinly settled 
sections, it is not clear why there should be any barrier to the 
systematic raising of chickens for both meat and eggs in the re- 
gion infested by the range caterpillar, or elsewhere over low- 



(26) 

priced land, for that matter. 

Beginnings with the melting of the snow after mid-winter, 
with insects then as 3^et completely inactive, and wild seeds 
scarce or absent, stems of grasses or weeds carrying the promi- 
nent egg-clusters of the hemilenca become the object of favorite 
attack by poultry. The insect is exposed to attack in this form 
as a rule, till June ist. 

The larval period in the largest number of cases extends 
from June ist to September ist— three months. That the poultry 
would effectively attack the insect in the larval form is proven in 
Ent. Bull. No. 85, p. 93: "On July 27, 1909 two robbins were 
seen, each with a hemilenca larva in its bill — By this date the 
majority of the larva are half grown. 'The birds fiew away with 
these..— apparently only of the smaller ones — as if intending to 
feed the caterpillars to their young." Thus if young birds can 
stand such young larva, it is safe to say that poultry can eat 
great numbers of the newly hatched and partly grown ones. And 
of course it is all a matter of the number of poultry on the job, 
whether any young larva would be left to grow big. There is 
nothing objectionable about the pupae. Skunks eat them greeily, 
although according to Chief Nelson of the Bureau of Biological 
Survey there is at present no evidence to show that they eat of 
the la^a, big or small. The adults are in plain uiew, resting on 
stems of grasses during the day, hence subject to attack. Egg- 
laying begins early in September, the species in this stage thus 
being subject to attack from then on till covered by snow. 

All this, with much" other matter, was in essence pointed out 
in my Circular No. 146, August 10, 1915- As the Entomologist 
has done nothing to satisfy himself as to the value of the evi- 
dence submitted, it will be v/ell to see what he says about birds, 
as enemies of the gips}'- and brown-tail moth. The latter of the 
two seems to be the w^orst of all important hairy caterpillars as 
regards the nature of the hairs.... The presence of caterpillars of 
the brown-tail moth in large numbers was actually unbearable 
on account of the poisoning... (Yearbook Separate No. 706. p, 2) 
Birds have some importance as enemies ~ of the gipsy-moth..., 



(27) 

pothunters..., have destroyed ^reat numbers of insectivorous 
birds. "Much of the increase in the number of the pest is attrib- 
uted to this." The caterpillars are preyed upon by the cuckoos, 
the Baltimore oriole, the yellow-throated vires and the blue jay." 
No destinction is here made between big and small caterpillars. 
"The moths are eaten by many birds," which is pretty good ev- 
idence that poultry would eat the moths of the range caterpillar, 
"and the eggs are eaten by several species." (Farm Bull. No. 
275, page 15.) Again, "birds are important in checking the 
spread of the brown-tail moth. The caterpillar, like other hairy 

species, are not so much eaten by birds, except certain ones 

The moths... are preved upon to a great extent bv birds...." 
(Farm. Bull. No. 264, p. 18.) 

In regard to controlling such insects by means of natural 
enemies, the Entomologist says in Year-book Separate No. 704, 
page 9: '..,with other kinds,.,, which may exist in the egg stage, 
in a crawling larval stage, in a quiesent pupael stage, and as a 
flying adult, and which in their native homes are parasitized by 
whole series of species of parasites, some attacking them in one 
stage and some in another, and still. others in a third, it is not 
such a simple thing to introduce and acclimatize the parasites 
necessary to reconstitute the normal environment." And admit- 
tedly these parasites are subject at any time to decimation by 
hyper-parasites. 

Since the gipsy- and brown-tail moth are principally tree- 
feeding insects, they are usuallv out of reach of poultry. But 
the3^ are also often within reach. ..."it is a common habit with 
the larva (of the gipsy-moth) if they are disturbed, to spin silk- 
en threads which are attached to the trees, and in this way low- 
er themselves to the ground." (Yearbook Separate 706, page 5) 
Thus if a larva lowers itself a few times with poultry on the 
ground, the lowering is apt to be stopped for good. "...,Of 
course the brown-tail moth is carried in the caterpillar stage just 
as is the gipsy moth" (through their lowering on silken threads) 
".upon vehicles of different kind passing through the infested re- 
gion and upon the persons of pedestrians as well,... (Farm Bull. 
264, p. 13) "...small caterpillars [of the gipsy moth] immedi- 



U8) 

atel}^ after hatching may be blown long distances b}^ the wind. 
It has been proved that spread often occurs from a distance of 
from 12 to 20 miles in this way. [Y-Sepr. 706, page 5]. How to 
get rid of such scattered caterpillars the Bureau has not the 
slightest suggestion to offer. With the woods patrolled b}' poul- 
tr}^ for this and other pests, such as the brown-tail moth and the 
tussock-moth, this would keep the incipient pest in check. 
There is no means of extermination. The gipsy moth has been 
discovered as far west as Cleveland, O. Being an isolated case, 
everything humanel}' possible has been and is being done to 
stamp out the pest. But with 3'oung caterpillars having been 
blown 12 to 20 miles it cannot be told for years with any degree 
of certainty whether the attempts at extermination have been 
successful. 

"Over half a million dollars is the yearly expenditure [for 
the control of the gipsy moth] in Massachusetts at the present 
time." [Y. S. No. 706, p 8,] This is for work by towns and 
cities. In the woodlands the gipsy moth multiplies unhindered. 
It will be seen then, that unless the moth there is kept in check 
— and poultry is the only means in sight, the Bureau having 
nothing to offer but parasites and elimination of favorable food 
plants, such as oak — with the young capable of being blown for 
miles, there will be a constant reinfestation of cleared areas from 
this cause alone. This alone explains wh3' "it is inevitable that 
new colonies will be found from time to time outside the region 
now known to be invested,.." Thus in Dep. Agr. Bulletin No. 
273, p. 18 it is estimated that the wind blows 210 million small 
larva annuall}^ into the ocean, and the number is probably much 
greater. It also emphasizes the necessit}^ of keeping this moth 
confined to New England territory if rapid and general spread 
over the United States is to be prevented." 

In Year-book Separate No. 704, p. 14, the U. S. Entomol- 
gist says: "On the whole, the work [of importing parasites of 
the gipsy- and brown-tail moth] has been very successful, and 
has helped in bringing about infinitelj'- better conditions in New 
England so far as these pests are concerned, and while it is prac- 
ticall}' certain that both the gipsy moth and brown-tail moth will 



(29) 

gfradually spread westward,- it is equally sure that the imported 
natural enemies will go with them, and that none of the long 
continued disastrous outbreaks which we saw in Massachusetts 
in the years prior to 1905 will occur further west." 

Let us see: "...A large part of the funds expended by towns 
and cities (in Massachusetts over half a million dollars a year) 
has been used for the protection oi shade and ornamental trees, 
it having been found impossible to carry on extensive work in 
w^oodlands, owing to the extreme cost of these operations. The 
beauty and attractiveness of most cities and residential sections 
depend on the trees...." (Y. S. No. 706 p. 10) That means that 
no funds were spent in woodlands except a little for experimen- 
tal work to find out that such work as is done in cities and 
residential sections involves their "extreme cost." The fact is 
the woodlands are not accessible to spraying rhachinery, and 
moreover represent far too low a valuation for this and all other 
artificial means of control, hence the insect there is left to breed 
unchecked. The "long continued disastrous outbreaks" have 
been and are existing there right along. "Enough pressure was 
brought to bear, however, in the fall of 1899, to cause the dis- 
continuance of State appropriations for the control of these in- 
sects... Matters became so serious in 1905 that work was resumed 
by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts..." Thus you see the 
"disastrous outbreaks" this humbugologist speaks about refer- 
red to conditions in towns and cities during a period when the 
state spent no money for 5 3'ears. 

The "infinitely better conditions" thus leaves the country 
at large without control, and as for work of the parasites, the 
insect does sufficiently well in spite of those to require the use 
of half a million dollars in towns and cities in Massachusetts a- 
lone. Poultr}' is a natural enemy of these and other insects, the 
only natural enemy that can be definitely controlled by man in 
its work, hence should for control in woodlands and farms, form 
the chief reliance in control. 

As for control in cities and residential sections this could be 
simplest secured through trapping the adults, in the case of the 



(so) 

g-ipsy moth of the male only. If woodlands and farms are con- 
trolled bj^ poiiltr3^ the number of brown-tail moths congregating 
in cities will correspondingly decrease, and thus greatly reduce 
the necessity for control there. If 3'ou will see to it that your 
Congressman uses his influence to see to it that action 
is taken on the matter in hand, I propose to show you how these 
moths can be trapped in vast numbers at surprisingly low cost. 
Until this is done you will have to look to the Secretary of Ag- 
riculture and his experts to show you how this trapping is done. 
Mr. A. S. Weiant, the author of Year-book Separate No. 700 
was asked to tell what he knows about poultry as a means of 
controlling insect pests. He said to do this one should be an en- 
tomologist. Speaking of turkeys as largely occupying his at- 
tention, Mr. Weiant says: "As a means of keeping down grass- 
hoppers I can vouch tor them," There is no good reason why 
chickens should not answer as well. If so, this then simply 
proves that I was right when I said as far t)ack as in my Circu- 
lar No. 147, p. 15, that the correct means to control grass-hop- 
per outbreaks consists in judiciously using poultry: that since 
their stronghold is in the high, dry, rocky lands, dangerous in- 
vasions from that source can l>e prevented by having large flocks 
of poultry roam over these otherwise nearly idle lands. Over 
further on Mr. Weiant says: "Turkeys are naturally g:reat ran- 
gers and when given the opportunity can pick up the most of 
their food in meadows, grain fields, pastures, alfalfa fields, etc' 
Then why not raise enough of them to utilize all of the ex- 
isting opportunity? And why should chickens not do as well? 
I have noticed in the South that turkeys spend very little time 
in the cotton fields provided there are any pastures or grain 
fields to roam in. This is just what one would expect. Meadows, 
grainfields and woodlands offer far better feeding than cotton 
fields early in the season when poultry vrill be wanted to be kept 
in cotton fields on purpose as needed, the shortness of food sup- 
ply forcing them to hunt for weevils and attack fallen infested 
squares, pick up Argentine ant workers to keep them from fost- 
ering aphis infestation, during which they render far more val- 
ue in spite of requiring more grain and more attention, than 
they would l-)y consuming food where it is more plentiful. 



(3r) 

An insect must become quite common before it can form 
an appreciable portion of the food of (wild) birds..." Bui. 107, 
pa^e 2. If so, you cannot expect wild birds much to reduce the 
boll weevil, since being multi-brooded, reduction in number of 
hibernated adults is what is most needed, and a small number is 
admitedl_v easil\' able to produce an off-spring large enough to 
destroy the crop. 

The natural food of the turkey consists of insects, green 
vegetation, seeds and luits of various kinds." On page 4 of 
Year-book Separate No. 700 Mr. Weiant points out that tur- 
keys greatly relish acorns and that where these are plentiful but 
little grain need be used for fattening them in the fall, which fits 
in nicely wuth turke}' raising in the woodlands of New England, 
consisting as the^^ do largely of oak, as a means of keeping 
down gips}/- and brown-tail moth infestation. "Of the insects 
turkeys seem to prefer grass-hoppers to all others, but the}^ will 
also eat circkets, grubs and worms of various kinds, flies, but- 
ter-flies, moth, etc." There is no reason why they should not eat 
of the hemilenca moth (range caterpillar). These being on the 
grass-stems in plain view, simply waiting to be picked. As at 
that time, late fall, there are hardly any grass-hoppers, thev 
represent the food most easily available. "Some insects thev 
appear to let strictly alone. For example I have never seen a 
turkey eat an ant. a caterpillar, or a potato bug." Now ants may 
be too small, besides they might eat them in the form of larva 
and pupa, if not as adults. As to caterpillars, if fullv growm 
hairy ones are meant by this, it is correct enough. How^ about 
the small and spineless ones? Only careful tests can tell. 

As to what birds do in the way of destroying the Argentine 
ant you read on page 73, Ent. Bull. No. 122: "On one occasion 
Mr. G. A. Runner observed an English sparrow industriously 
picking up the Argentme workers from a trail which crossed a 
wude roadway at Baton Rouge. This habit is not, however, a 
common one with this bird." If this sparrow could get at noth- 
ing else, a condition that can be imposed on poultry, the habit 
would become common at once. 

"The flicker, or yellowhammer, Calaptes auratus, has of- 



(32) 

ten been seen industriously- digg-ing up shallow ant nests in 
lawns and grass plots, evidenth^ for the purpose of obtaining 
the pupa and larva, and should doubtless be credited with being- 
the most important natural enem}^ w^hich this ant has in the 
South.,." What the Entomologist was wanted to show^ all along 
was wh}^ poultr,v would not also dig up these nests. 

Speaking of poultry catching moths, it should be borne in 
mind that the adults of some borers most difficult to control are 
moths. 

Take the sugar cane moth borer. This insect is, in Ento- 
mology Circular No. 139, p. 2, conceded to do enormous dam- 
age. Figures there given place the loss on plant cane alone used 
in one factory in three years previous to 191 2 at $145,445. 

Since the U. S. Bureau of Entomology has published very 
little in regard to the life history of this insect, I asked Gover- 
nor Pleasant of Louisana for the favor to request his State Ex- 
periment Station to send me a copy of their Bulletin No. 70, 
second series: The Cain Borer. This was done. The remedies 
there given consist in substance in planting the cane as near as 
possible in the fall, burning all trash, and of culling cane and 
corn in the spring. The borers in the buried fall-planted cane 
are not able to emerge as adults through anything as thick as 
one-half inch of loose soil. "The windrowed areas should be 
systematically gleaned after removal'of cane for spring planting 
and all pieces of cane destroyed by fire or carefully buried..." 
[p. 923] " all trash [cane tops] should when cut be so arranged 
upon the cane rows as to hasten drying and whenever dry should 

be fired " (p. 924) The borer's "only food in Louisana has 

been found to be sugar cane, corn, Johnson grass, Guinea corn, 
sorghum, (sweet and sour-sweet) and possibly two other large 
grasses." (page 927.) 

But to burn or bury all waste is a pretty big job, besides 
burning any kind of vegetation means a loss. The Department 
of Agriculture fathers the statement that "the burning of a wheat 
stubble deprives the land of as much fertility as the producing 
of five crops of < wheat." If so the main loss is sustained through 
the action of the fire upon the soil. 



(33) 

*'Ever_vbody [with but few exceptions] burns the trash — 
vet with this only known effort practiced alike in every commu- 
nity, the borer multiplies to a destructive extent in one section 
and is practically subdued in another." (p. 902) 

Thus you see the need for something better, or at least for 
some effective additional means of control. 'Tf fall planting on- 
ly be made... the enclosed borers must remain until the cane is 
scraped in the spring ajid the few which w^ill then escape would 
be hardly enough to produce much harm during the summer..." 
(page 904). 

Let us see: On page 925 is given the record of a cane cul- 
ling bee. 420 acres were culled in the early spring, filling 120 
sacks, each having 333 borers, or a total of 39960, this makes a 
catch of 95, say 100 borers to the acre. A female lays on the av- 
erage 300 eggs. Thus one female emerging from every 3 acres 
of scraped cane might do all this damage. Suppose 10 infested 
stalks per acre of first brood were missed. This gives us live re- 
sulting females, at 300 eggs each, or 1500 borer of second brood 
during say, June-July. 750 females will result, at 300 eggs each 
you have 225,000 borers of the third brood during August-Sept- 
ember: and 3,375,000 per acre for the 4th brood during October- 
Nove Tiber. While such numbers do not occur, more likely be- 
cause ot cannibalism than of all other causes combined, it shows 
that the insect has the faculty to increase to such numbers as 
can subsist under such competition. 

"Corn is more succulent, more rapid in development and 
thus in the economy ot the borer assures the development of ma- 
ny more specimens than if cane were the only food plant of the 
first two broods..." (page 912). Infestation of young corn is 
shown to be about ten times heavier than cane. (p. 912) 

Investigations have shown that 87 per cent of the moths e- 
merge prior to April 15th. Moths come from the pupa cases at 
night and after expanding their wings remain hanging to some 
plant or other object during the entire following day. The second 
night mating takes place and a few eggs may be deposited.. The 
moths are not shy and unless vigorously disturbed will not take 
flight during the day..., (p. 910)- 



(34) 

Since windrowed areas produce the largest number of moths, 
a stand of young corn there, with the moths hanging on the 
plants can be made to serve as a trap, since, the poultry given 
access: the moths can be largely secured. In the past the advice 
given was that "...limited tracts of corn badly infested with the 
iDorer in close proximit\^ to cane should be completely destroyed 
to protect the cane crop from succeeding broods..." (p. 925-); 
now with poultry at work there is no need of reducing the acre- 
age of corn, or abandoning corn for a vear or more, as recorded 
on page 914 to have been foimd beneficial in preventing heavy 
infestation of cane. 

"...few if an}^ moths emerge during the colder months of 
winter. ..(p, 910) ...the m.oths w^hile existing in small numbers 
confine their attacks to the ends of the rows and to the ditch 
bank rows..." [p. 903]. This either means that the earliest e- 
merging adults have Vv^intered outside of the fields hidden, away 
under some heavy vegetation, or else it means that the insect 
has hibernated as larva on plants on the ditch bank and more 
adults have developed there early than did in the fields; or it 
means both. At any rate the thing to do is, instead of planting- 
no corn, to plant corn by preference in the ditch bank rows and 
as near as possible at the ends of the rows, and to protect also 
the interior cf the field by strips of corn, kept patrolled all 
through the season by po'ultry. It is obvious that there must be 
ahvays corn on hand that is young. To this end tvro crops of 
corn are grown on these strips, some corn, beginning on March 
ist. being planted at intervals of one month up to September ist. 
While harvesting of cane is going on and before there is frost, 
the borer, with corn present, planted August ist and September 
ist, will virtually confine oviposition to these savings. These 
should be left standing. A legume can and should be sown be- 
tween at the last cultivation. Stock may be admitted after frost 
and the whole thing must be plowed down nicely before the be- 
ginning of emergence, say before Match loth. 

If poultry be not used, it Vv'ill be readily seen that the nor- 
mal requirement of corn could not be produced without endan- 
gering the cane crop unless a great deal of care is used culling 



(35) 

the corn. It would not seem feasible to cull millet by hand, 
hence under the old system millet must be left out of the crop 
rotatian. 

As practicality all of the cane growing area is overrun by the 
Argentine ant, poultry is needed all through the summer to pick 
up the workers to prevent undue multiplication of the measly 
bug and of aphids. Besides there are numerous other insects af- 
fecting corn and cane, and other crops necessary^ to allow at 
least of some diversification, which poultry can be more or less 
successfully used to control. 

Another highlv injurious day-flying moth is the adult of the 
peach-tree borer, which deposits her eggs at the base of the trees. 
Poultry allowed to roam through the orchard with a view of 
keeping down insects in general, would secure a certain number 
of these, reducing the need for other means of control. 

A day-flying moth that does very similar work, ovipositing 
at the base of the trees, is the sequoia pitch moth. It is at pres- 
ent the most destructive insect to the large pole pines in certain 
parts of Montana. Poultry made to roam the woods in sufficient 
quantity for controling insects in general would increase the use 
of the land and to a certain extent keep this pest in check. 

In his report for 1916 the Entomologist makes the claim 
that tests are being carried on by the Bureau of Entomology that 
hold out the possibility of a chance of discovering successful 
methods of preventing the establishment and spread of the pine- 
shoot moth, and of the European pine-saw fly, both "introduced 
shortly before the plant quarantine act became operative." [p. 
16]. The first named insect has been introduced, as stated in 
Agr. Bull. No. 170, as far back as 191 1, was found in 1914 in 
20 localities in nine states, in one case, the work then being 3 
years old. Both sexes are strong fliers, laying their eggs in the 
apical and other terminal buds of pine trees, thus offering not 
the slightest chance of extermination as explained in detail in 
my Circular No. 145 and 146. Yet even as late as this the Ento- 
mologist wants to humbug the people into believing that its es- 
tablishment can yet be prevented, when for means of control it 
has nothing but the removal and burning of the infestedshoots. 



(36) 

In the case of the European pine-saw fly, extermination is, 
if possible, even more broadly impossible. The adult is a fly. 
The eggs are laid in the needles on the tips of the trees. The in- 
sect was discovered in August 1914 in Connecticut. It has two 
broods, which means rapid dissemination. This insect, together 
with the larchworm, it was shown on pages 16 and 17 of my 
Circular No. 149, has been decribed rather minutely in the re- 
port of the Connecticut State Entomologist for 191 5. Mr. 
S. A. Robicer of the Bureaa of Entomology at Washington, is 

there quoted as saying that " it has a large number of host 

trees" [in Europe] "and would no doubt adapt itself readily to 

the conditions in America "[Rep. Conn. Ent. 1915, p. 119]. 

Thus extermination if attempted, would involve examination of 
pines and other conifers for many miles around the original in- 
festation means of extermination there are none. As to means 
of control. 'Tt is eivdent that Diprion simile is freely attacked 
here by American species of parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera, 
but it is not known as 3'et whether any Europeean species were 
brought into this country in the cocoons of the sawfly". Other 
practical means, necessary when the parasites fail, the Ento- 
mologist has none. The use of poultry makes it possible to 
secure the larva as they spin down or fall down occassionally, 
or when they migrate over the ground to other trees. The larva 
being hairless should make choice eating for poultry. "In 
Europe raking up and destroying the leaves and other rubbish 
under the trees in the fall is recommeded to distroy the cocoon." 
[p. 123]. A far better way would be to have the cocoons 
scratched up and eaten by poultry. 

The larchsaw fly is single brooded, spends the winter in a 
cocoon beneath rubbish on the ground and thus can easily be 
controlled by poultry, besides the caterpillars are subject to at- 
tack when on the ground. 

This insect ''invariably chooses the young, green, terminal 
twig in which to insert the eggs., When the apical terminal 
shoot is affected... a permanent kink may be caused... It is an 
injury which cannot be prevented..." page 127. Poultry, by 
keeping the insect down to limited numbers will prevent the in- 



(37) 

sect from layinpr any great number oi eo-g-s into any one shoot, 
and thus prevent any great injury to apical shoots. 

This saw-fly "during several extensive outbreaks since 1880 
has killed from 50 to 100 per cent of the mature larch over vast 
areas in the north-eastern United States and south-eastern Can- 
da.,. aggregating many millions of feet." (Rep. Conn. p. 60) 
The chief factors in the control of the larch saw-fly are its nat- 
ural enemies, which consist of birds, mammals, a large number 
of parasitic and predaceous insects, and a fungus disease." 
(Rep. Conn, Ent. p, 130). But since outbreaks do occur with 
this and many other insects of similar habits, why not use poul- 
try when and where it is needed? 

vSince the Entomologist talks about half of his time about 
what great good parasites, native and imported, are doing as 
the result of the work of his Bureau, it is well to see what the 
pine shoot moth has done in Europe in spite of its parasites, 
and in spite of continued preventative war against it... If the 
attack is slight, it results in the branching of the tree," (since, 
if uninfected, the moth selects the apical bud for oviposition) 
but if the attack is severe and continued for several 3'ears, as 
we have seen it, then hardly any bud is spared and the pines be- 
come stunted into miseral31e small bushes..." (Dept, of x\gr, Bui. 
No. 170, p. 2.) 

"It is reasonable to suppose that some of the native para- 
sites on some of the native species of Evetvia will in time also 
attack Evetvia buoliana (the imported pine shoot moth) in this 
countr}^ — in fact parasitized larva have already been observed — 
but these native parasites cannot be relied upon to keep in check 
their natural hosts, the American pine shoot moths, which spo- 
radically become ver\" abundant and ver}^ injurious, in spite of 
the parasites and presumably will be less effective in controlling 
the newly introduced host." (p. 9.) "None of these native spe- 
cies (of pine shoot moths) can, however, even with this advan- 
tage [of having two broods annually] be compared in destruct- 
iveness to the European species just introduced... "[p. 8] 

Since chiefh^ young trees are chosen for oviposition, I had 
shown in ray Circular No, 145, page 7, that the sensible thing 



(38) 

to do is to protect, if possible, the apical bud in some \va3' when 
the adults are about laying their eggs, the most feasible way ap- 
pearing to me to be the pouring of some semi-liquid cla}^ over 
the apical bud, causing thus the moths to oviposit on a side 
shoot, which serves just as well. I also described in my Circulars 
No. 145. 147 and 149, pages 13 to 15, how these moths and 
ether night flying insects might be. trapped. 

Virtually all this and more was shown in my Circular No. 
145, June 7, 1915, The Chairman of the Congressional Commit- 
tees on Agriculture^ Senator Thomas P. Gore and Representa- 
tive Asbury t . Lever were urged to have the U. S. Entomolo- 
gist either admit this to be correct, or else show why it should 
not be correct. Pouring semi-liquid clay over the apical bud ei- 
ther protects it or it does not protect it. "Early in August [in 
Europe) the eggs are laid singlj^ on the nevv' buds of the next 
years growth..." page 5. The adult will not of course, oviposit 
on hardened clay, when she has plenty of side shoots' serving 
fully as well. The Chairmen mentioned therefore should have 
forced the Entomologist to define his position. And this applies 
to all issues involved. 

Protecting the apical bud b}' an application of semi-liquid 
clay ma3^ be a simple enough idea. On thS other hand this insect 
"has been the subject of much stud^^ and of an extensive litera- 
ture from the time it was first described b^^ Schiffermnller in 
1776 to the present day." The U. S. Entomologist frankly savs 
his Bureau is the best thing of the kind on earth. The fact re- 
mains, no one has pointed out this simple idea before; and now 
the Entomologist wants to pretend to be unable to see any good 
in it. And Messrs. Gore and Lever thus far, have wanted me 
to be hanged on that pretense. 

The apparatus shown on last page was designed with a 
view to meet the needs for an apparatus, that v/ill enable the 
man having a limited am.ount of vegetation, ranging in size 
from big trees down to grasses, to keep same free of insects and 
fungi. In a few cases, with the codling moth for instance, the 
proper use of arsnicals is the best thing at present known, but in 
the case of all sucking insects, and in any case vv^here poison is 



(39) 

for one reason or another not sa.tistactor_v ag^ainst bitini^" insects, 
with the exception of where the^^ can be controlled by poultry, 
or by trap crops, or by the torch used as a trap at night, the 
use of heat is far preferable to emplo^ving the contact insecticides 
now officialb/ recommended. 

It may be well to mention here that now flour mills and 
other buildings infested by insects are being fitted, as the best 
means known for control, with heating apparatus of such capac- 
ity that insects may be killed simply by giving so much heat 
that they will die purely because of high temperature, doing a- 
wa_v w^ith the many objections incident to using poisonous gases. 

The use of heat from a torch, was first described b^^ me in 
in 1898 and was first used b:v me in 1896 as a means of controll- 
ing the harlequin cabbage bug. In his report for 19 16 the Ento- 
mologist on page 18 says: ' ...Such remedies as trap-crop plant- 
ing and the destruction of the bugs with special burners are a- 
mong the most successful," in combating the harlequin bug. As 
for the trap crops, I had shown as far back as 1898 the adult 
bugs congregate on the tassels of sweet corn. More recently I 
have showm that by seemg to it to have at all times some cruci- 
ferous plant going to seed, the bugs will congregate on the seed- 
stalks and can be kept dowm by poultry, doing away with the 
use of heat, special or otherwise. But old or new, according to 
the Entomologist I am wrong either way. 

The adult harlequin bug lays her eggs on the underside of 
the leaves of cruciferous plants^ which leaves are mostly invert- 
ed spoonshaped; hence the 3^oung bugs usually cannot be seen 
without moving the leaf. Because of this the simplest means of 
control consists in concentrating the adults in plain view upon 
tassels of sweet corn or seedstalks of cruciferous plants. They 
then can be picked off by hand or by the use of poultr3^ 

On page ly of his report the Entomologist speaks about the 
control of the spinach aphis by lady beetles in the truck district 
of tidewater Virginia. He says "the extensive cutting down of 
trees and removal of underbrush for planting of truck crops left 
us available places for the ladybirds to hibernate..." Then how 



(4o) 

cjoes he expect these ladybirds to become and stay plentiful in 
the fields, since, moreover, they go to feed on lice on most of the 
crops and since all these crops need treatment as to insects and 
fungi, which treatment of necessity also kills the ladybugs. He 
says the plants cannot be reached, even with an underspray. I 
claim there is an "underspray" that reaches them, that is, 
reaches the lice hidden in the hollows of the inverted spoon- 
shaped leaves, especially when the plant is growing nicely in 
the spring. And this sprav consists in the use of heat as ap- 
plied by a torch. Some kind of knapsacktype torch is the thing 
to use and the essential feature in its use is to use it early, oft- 
en, and swiftly, letting the heat blow slantways upon the ground 
a few inches from the plants as they are approached. The heat 
waves will then roll in between the leaves. 

Without thus controlling the aphids, on the spinach, this 
crop will act as a winter host on a large scale for this and var- 
ious other kinds of aphids, resulting in abnormally heavy in- 
festation of succeeding crops. 

The special features of the apparatus shown consists in that 
the handle of the pistonrod of the pump located in the center 
serves also as a hook, making it possible, after remoying the 
shoulderstrap, to hook the apparatus from branch to branch in 
a tree. This does very well with the man having but few trees, 
making him independent in his work, since the official recom- 
mendations call for something else in many dilierent cases. 

For big trees in large numbers. I have described on pages 
II to 13 of my Circular No. 147 how suitable apparatus furnish- 
ing heat can be gotton up. Heat thus applied is far the best 
means to destroy the stem mothers of aphids and the adult 
pcarthrips as they congregate upon the bursting buds of fruit 
trees and fruit bushes. 

I had also shown how apparatus applying heat to lowgrow- 
ing vegetation, such as oats infested with the spring grain aphis, 
can be constructed, using, if desired, as far as practicable fit- 
tings from the outfit used for orchard work. 



(4i) 
The sprinii- grain aphis is usually held in check by natural 
enemies — for details see Enr. Circular Xo. 93, Revised. The 
natural enemies rather often fail. The latest occurrence was 
rii^^ht in 1916, as recorded on page 12 of the report. On pages 
12 and 13 of my circular No. 144 I had shown at some length 
that the Entomologist has no tangible means of control. The 
use of heat does destroy the pest and should come into effect as 
soon as the danger of an outbreak becomes apparent. 





The Reinlein 

Knapsack 

Gasoline Torch 

Pat. No. 739.S,?t 
Sept. 15. 1903 



(SKE,,Sf:.,.?O^^GRESS 



015 793 690 6 • 



